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Galleries

“Animal Kingdom” Exhibition

Newhall Community Center | June – September 2026

The City of Santa Clarita (City) is inviting artists to submit artwork for consideration in the upcoming “Animal Kingdom” juried exhibition, which will be on view at the Newhall Community Center from June through September 2026. This exhibition celebrates the diversity, beauty, and spirit of animals across the natural world, inviting artists to explore wildlife, domesticated animals, and symbolic representations of the animal form. From detailed portraits and dynamic movement to expressive interpretations and imaginative creatures, “Animal Kingdom” encourages artists to reflect on the relationships between humans and animals. All mediums are welcome, including but not limited to photography, painting, and mixed media. Artists are invited to submit works inspired by fauna, ecosystems, and the emotional and cultural significance of animals. The exhibition honors animals as subjects of wonder, connection, and storytelling.

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“Seascapes” Group Exhibition

First Floor Gallery, City Hall | May 20 – August 12 2026

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Seascapes,” on display in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through August 12, 2026. This juried showcase celebrates the beauty and power of the ocean, inviting viewers to reflect on humanity’s connection to the sea. From expansive shorelines and rolling waves to marine life, harbors and underwater worlds, “Seascapes” explores the moods and visual poetry of the ocean. Featuring a variety of artistic mediums including painting, photography, mixed media and handcrafted three-dimensional works, this exhibition captures the ever-changing nature of coastal landscapes and seafaring imagery.

Among the featured artists is Jody Nelson, whose mixed-media artworks explore the emotional and atmospheric qualities of the ocean. “The ocean has always been a place of emotional reckoning — vast, shifting and deeply still all at once,” Nelson shares. Working through layered collage, paint and pastel, Nelson creates textured surfaces that evoke both memory and movement. She explains “I explore the tension between movement and quiet, between the weight of atmosphere and the luminosity beneath it”. Nelson’s process encourages the eye to wander across the piece. “Warm and cool tones pull against each other across bands of water, sky and cloud, creating a visual rhythm that invites the eye to travel and rest. These are landscapes of feeling as much as place,” Nelson explains.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, Sono Arima, Don Belanger, Katy Bishop, Marita Braun, Elizabeth Chislett, Susan Contreras, Helaine Cummins, Eric Durante, Chelsea Estrada, Stephanie Garrett, Mardilan Lee Georgio, Meryl Goudey, Makenzie Haber, Ashley Hines, Keiji Ichikawa, Rosalie Kessing, Jessica L Lane, Allison Lauricella, Jennifer Tang Limon, Annie Marini-Genzon, Laurie Morgan, Jody Nelson, Nancy Perkins, Coty Schack, Jayme Sun Thomas, Babak Valizadeh, Barbara Weissbrod and Dakota Zumsteg.

The featured photo is “Low Tide” by Jody Nelson

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“Dreamscapes” Exhibition

March 25, 2026 – June 24, 2026

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Dreamscapes,” on display at the Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street) now through June 24, 2026. This juried exhibition explores the imaginative, surreal and subconscious worlds, inviting viewers into dreamlike environments shaped by memory, emotion and fantasy. From ethereal scenes and abstract visions to symbolic narratives and altered realities, “Dreamscapes” blurs the line between the real and the imagined while celebrating creativity without boundaries.

Among the featured artists is Taia Akulova, whose work reflects a deeply introspective and psychological approach to painting. “My work moves between abstraction and form, translating inner experience into visual language,” Akulova shares. “The paintings unfold like dreamscapes. Spaces where reality softens, time dissolves, and identity becomes fluid,” she explains. Rather than offering escape, Akulova invites viewers into an intimate encounter with inner worlds shaped by intuition, vulnerability and imagination. The featured photo is “Delicate Vibrations” by Taia Akulova.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, John H Adkins, Taia Akulova, Georgette Arison, Elizabeth Chislett, John Cowan, Meghann Flaherty, Tim Song Jones, Allison Lauricella, Julia Markovich, Susan Magine, Katie McGuire, Mark Micchio, Jane Mick, Madeline Peng Miller, Danny Muñoz, Justin Poole, Alex Selkowitz, Jayme Sun Thomas, Zuri Timmons, and Stuart Vaughan.

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“I’m a Part of Nature” Exhibition

January 28, 2026 – April 15, 2026

Valencia Public Library, 23743 Valencia Blvd, Valencia, CA 91355

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present “I’m a Part of Nature,” a solo exhibition by Keiji Ichikawa, on view at the Valencia Library (23743 Valencia Boulevard) now through Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on humanity’s deep connection to the natural world through expressive, color-driven paintings inspired by lived experience and observation.

“I’m a Part of Nature” features a series of recent acrylic works that interpret real landscapes through emotion, memory and sensory perception rather than literal realism. Keiji’s paintings are rooted in the belief that humans do not own nature, but belong to it—a philosophy shaped by his childhood in Tokyo during a period of heavy pollution and reinforced through a lifetime of travel and artistic exploration. Drawing from sketches and photographs made on-site, Keiji allows color, intuition and his “six senses” to guide each composition, resulting in works that balance structure with abstraction.

Born in Japan and later living in Paris before settling in Southern California, Keiji brings a global perspective to his practice. Influenced by his parents’ work as traditional kimono artisans, he uses a limited palette of primary colors to build layered, expressive scenes. Often including a small painted self-figure within each work, Keiji invites viewers into the space of the painting, encouraging contemplation and personal connection.

Website: www.atelierkeiji.com

Social Media: @atelierkeiji

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“Saving Endangered Wildlife Through Fine Art” Exhibit

January 28, 2026 – March 30, 2026

Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St. Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Saving Endangered Wildlife Through Fine Art,” by Sherif Hakeem on view now through March 30, 2026 at the Old Town Newhall Library Branch (24500 Main Street). This exhibition features hyper-realistic charcoal drawings that spotlight endangered wildlife and invite viewers to reflect on humanity’s responsibility to protect the natural world.

Through meticulous detail and striking realism, Hakeem’s work captures wildlife not as illustrations, but as living beings deserving of care and preservation. By employing hyper-realism, his drawings often resemble photographs at first glance—an intentional approach that draws viewers closer and sparks deeper engagement with the subjects portrayed. Each piece encourages conversation not only about artistic technique, but about conservation, environmental loss and the urgent need to protect vulnerable species.

Hakeem’s mission extends beyond visual impact. Portions of artwork sales from the exhibition will benefit wildlife sanctuaries and conservation efforts, transforming each piece into both a work of fine art and a call to action. “I don’t see these animals as drawings,” Hakeem shares. “I see them as real beings who cannot speak for themselves, and my work is a way to give them a voice.”

Instagram: @sherifhakeem

Website: https://fineartforawareness.com

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“Make Life Beautiful” Exhibition

January 20 – April 1, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

ANNOUNCEMENT: “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky has been extended to April 1, 2026.

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce its latest art exhibition, “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky on view at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) now through March 2, 2026.

“Make Life Beautiful” is a collection of intricate, psychedelic mandalas and geometric compositions designed to captivate the senses and encourage deep reflection. Each piece is hand-painted on canvas, ranging in size from small (6” x 6”) to large (36” x 48”), using acrylic, fluorescent, and UV-reactive paints. The artworks feature layered symmetry, vibrant color transitions, and hypnotic patterns that invite viewers into a meditative visual journey.

This exhibition explores the relationship between color, symmetry, and consciousness. Mandalas have long been symbols of unity and transformation, and this collection embraces that tradition while infusing it with a modern, psychedelic aesthetic. The use of fluorescent and UV-reactive paints adds an interactive dimension, allowing the works to shift and evolve under different lighting conditions. The pieces are designed to be uplifting and immersive, encouraging viewers to find moments of stillness and inspiration within the complexity of each design.

Q&A with Aaron Koscelansky

The title of your exhibition is “Make Life Beautiful.” What does that phrase mean to you personally and artistically?
“Make Life Beautiful comes from a project I started in Lancaster, CA. There was an open desert behind my apartment complex that would often attract illegally dumped items. I didn’t have the manpower or machinery to remove it all myself, but I did want a more appealing looking neighborhood. I started taking Posca markers on my walks through the desert and would find items to draw on. The idea was to take items that had been discarded, give them new life through creativity, and showcase them as art pieces, leaving them where they were dumped but with a new design. Intentionally making life around me more beautiful. I would leave my Instagram handle (@psychedelicwatermelon) on the pieces I created, and every once in a while, I would receive a message from someone who found an item I had drawn on and taken it home. With a little bit of intentionality, someone’s trash had become someone else’s art.”

Do you have a favorite piece in this exhibit?
“Wavelength of Bees.”

How do you begin your creative process?
“I find an item or canvas that interests me. They can be found, thrifted, or bought, and I’ll usually begin with choosing colors and painting a background. The bright backgrounds of my pieces come first, then I sit with the item/canvas until an idea arrives for what will become the focal point of the piece.”

Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?
“My artistic influences come from lived experience. I enjoy bright colors, symmetry, movies, astronomy, nature, stand up, podcasts and music. I love anything that brings a sense of novelty and joy to everyday life.”

Your work features intricate mandalas and geometric symmetry. What draws you to these forms?
“I’m a fan of psychologists like Jung. He, “felt certain that mandala drawing has the function of integrating psychological division, enhancing psychological harmony, and preserving personality integrity.” I started drawing mandalas after a very difficult period in my life. I also found it had a calming, stay-in-the-present effect. I found myself being able to work for up to five hours on a mandala piece with little to no breaks, and sometimes even without background noise, becoming more comfortable working in silence.”

Do you plan your geometric patterns ahead of time or allow them to evolve as you paint?
“I’ll usually draw the overall shape of the mandalas with a pencil before going in with markers or paint. However, the details within them, like dot work or highlights, evolve as I work.”

What tools or techniques do you use to achieve such precise symmetry and layering?
“I use a compass, or sometimes any circular household object to get the main proportions of the mandalas accurate. A ruler will sometimes be used for longer straight lines. Otherwise, all of my work is hand drawn without stencils, projectors, or VR.”

Your work uses fluorescent and UV-reactive paints. What inspired you to experiment with these materials?
“I enjoy artwork that can play with different light. I’ll use fluorescent, UV-reactive, and metallic elements in my paintings to help bring extra depth to the pieces; allowing the viewer to have different experiences with the same piece depending on which lighting is being used. Like a play-off of 1960’s psychedelic, neon posters.”

What do you hope viewers feel when they experience your work?
“A sense of joy, or a moment or relaxation. I find that children tend to be drawn to my artwork due to the bright colors or my periodic use of cartoon characters they might recognize. But overall, I just want to bring a little joy to the world through my creativity. Making the world a little bit more beautiful through art.”

What is the best piece of advice you have received as an artist?
“You should enjoy the process more than the destination. Fall in love with the journey not the result.”

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“Let Go” Exhibition

December 2, 2025 – February 4, 2026 

Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

“Let Go” by artist Dani Samson is a series of collages created through an intentional act of surrender.  Samson states “Using a diverse array of materials, I enlist gravity as my collaborator, dropping cut elements onto a surface and gluing them down exactly where they land. By relinquishing control, I suspend my thoughts and conditioned habits, allowing surprising compositions to emerge. This process yields arrangements that challenge my expectations, often leading to captivating material interactions that bring new depth and complexity to the work. Much like life itself, this series explores the cycle of choice, chance, acceptance, and interpretation. Each viewer brings their own perspective, assigning meaning in the same way I do when stepping back from the work. I invite audiences to spend time with these pieces, asking themselves: What could it be? What could it mean to me?”

Links to Dani Samson’s Media related to “Let Go“:

The artwork attached is titled “Portal”

Q&A with Dani Samson 

How do you usually start your creative process?
“In most of my practice, my process begins with a basic structure that I build from, such as a sketch or a reference image. There’s usually a lot of thought and intention behind how I arrange my materials, which often span multiple mediums. While I allow for looseness and moments of discovery, I tend to assert a fair amount of control over the outcome. What’s unique about the Let Go series is how radically simple the process is: gather collage materials, drop them, glue them, and observe the result. I have very little control, which makes this approach highly unusual for me.”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received as an artist?
“There are many ways I could answer this, but one piece of advice has consistently carried me through my practice: fully own what you do. When I was first developing my creative voice, I felt self-conscious and uncertain about my work and its meaning. It’s easy, as an artist, to question the validity of what you make, how you make it, or why you make it. But leaning into your instincts, trusting your voice, and releasing shame around your work is essential. Your perspective is enough, exactly as it is.”

You use gravity as a collaborator by dropping cut elements and gluing them exactly where they land. How did you develop this technique, and what surprised you most when you began using it?
“In 2024, I challenged myself to intentionally cultivate certain qualities in both my life and my practice. One of those qualities was play. I initially approached this method as a fun exercise rather than a formal technique. I dropped the pieces simply to see what might happen. By the time I finished the first piece, I was genuinely laughing out loud with delight. The results were far more compelling and beautiful than I had anticipated, and I was surprised by the cosmic profundity of it.”

Have you ever been tempted to intervene after the pieces land, or is the commitment to “no adjustments” part of the integrity of the work?
“I am definitely tempted! But I very rarely make adjustments. Once in a while, I will flip a piece over if it lands “face down” (or what I think is face down). Other than that, I trust the process and let it be.”

How do you decide when a piece is finished, especially when chance dictates so much of the composition?
“Because I select all of the collage materials before I begin, the ending is already determined. The piece is finished when every chosen element has been used. Deciding how many pieces to select at the start is intuitive, guided by a feeling of “this is enough.” Knowing when a work is complete is an important skill in my practice overall, but in this series, the parameters make that decision more straightforward.”

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Pop Culture Exhibition

December 16, 2025 – March 25, 2026

Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St, Newhall CA 91321 

“Pop Culture” juried exhibition will be on view at the Newhall Community Center from December 16, 2025, through March 25, 2026. This exhibition celebrates the icons, imagery, and influence of pop culture—inviting artists to explore how entertainment, media, fashion, and technology shape our collective identity. From nostalgic references to contemporary commentary, “Pop Culture” encourages artists to reflect on the trends, symbols, and stories that connect us through shared experiences. The exhibition highlights the creative energy of everyday life and celebrates the ways popular culture continues to inspire, challenge, and unite us through art.

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Travel and Adventure Exhibition

December 9, 2025 – March 4, 2026

City of Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd #120, Valencia, CA 91355

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Travel and Adventure,” on view in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through March 4, 2026. This juried showcase celebrates the spirit of exploration, inviting viewers to experience the beauty, culture and wonder of places around the world through the eyes of artists. From bustling streets and iconic landmarks to remote coastlines, vintage transportation and foods that tell a story, “Travel & Adventure” highlights the universal joy of discovery and the connections we forge while exploring our world.

Among the featured artists is Justin Poole, whose vibrant oil-on-canvas works transform real locations into imaginative, dreamlike landscapes. “Although most of my work is inspired by real places to which I have traveled, I aim to capture a romanticized, dreamlike world with vibrant colors and unexpected juxtapositions. I hope that this work inspires people to go out into the world and make their own adventures,” Poole shares.

Also featured is photographer Nima Kharrazi, whose work reflects the emotional resonance of travel. Kharrazi states, “I feel as though, the more one travels, the more one feels connected to the whole of the world. You meet interesting people, you hear new sounds and you get to experience a different version of your daily adventure. Every day is a gift — why not surprise yourself from time to time? These are my surprises.”

The exhibiting artists include Ashleigh Abrams, Faye Abharian, Shiva Asrari, Joel Bareng, Sue Bozman, Lisa Broadway-Chow, Marita Braun, Catherine Carstens, Ryan Cheney, John Cowan, Meryl Goudey, Hope Horner, Keiji Ichikawa, Nima Kharrazi, Corissa Leeds, Allison Lauricella, Mellie Lewis, Eliska Makovicka, Mark Micchio, Jane Mick, Freda Morrison, Nancy Perkins, JJ Pomegranate, Justin Poole, Rick Quinn, Debora A. Roselli, Olga Shiller, Miki Stromberg, Tesha Smith, Rose Smither, Jayme Sun Thomas, Izik Vu, Naomi Young and Mia Zumsteg.

The featured photo is “Venice Canal” by Justin Poole.

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Santa Clarita Arts & Events Division
23920 Valencia Blvd #120, Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 250-3787   ·   aeo@santa-clarita.com

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